Any Spring3 owners here?
Spring2 had galvanically isolated USB input.
May has galvanically isolated USB input.
But there’s no comment on the website that Spring3 has.
I have had the Spring 3 KTE for 37 days I have commented in the Spring 3 thread on this forum.
The Spring 3 KTE has the same USB circuit as May including Galvanically Isolated as far as I know
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Thanks! Yes May is galvanically isolated and it does appear your KTE level has the same as May.
I was most interested in Level 2. It’s a bit confusing below because first it says KTE is the only level but then it also mentioned Level 2.
The Level 2 they mention is in the HOLO MAY level2
Worth noting if your have a good DDC (SingXer, or Matrix with Ext supply you may be fine wit the Spring 3 Level 2 without the upgraded USB port
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The only Spring version with the Titanis USB is the KTE. Levels 1 and 2 are standard.
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Oops, i forgot May also had levels too ! Thanks!
Yes that part is clear from my screenshot above, which explains the differences of KTE.
Interesting to see that you reached the same conclusion in your setup : the hdmi cable quality matters a lot less with the Holo than with the PSA dacs.
Have you tried different usb cables with the SingXer? Does the quality of the usb cable matter with the Holo? It certainly did with the DS.
If other Holo owners (@dawkinsj, @cudfoo, @mrderrick etc) have experimented with USB cables, with or without a Matrix or other DDC, I am curious to hear about their experiences. We learn by sharing experiences.
Hi @waymanchen11, any initial feedback from your friend on his May KTE ?
He actually does not have speakers right now since his ESP speakers are broken and is in process of finding a new pair. He is thinking maybe Magneplaners 20.7’s But meanwhile he is just breaking it in with a cheap CD player he bought for this purpose. I’ll give he some more time and then ask him to bring it over for me to try it.
I just bought a new PST and it will arrive next Wednesday according to Fed Ex, but that may take some time to break in also. I would like to try it with the May and see how that sounds, just like what you are using. Maybe the May might be in my future as well.
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May with Serene update:
I’ve had the May since Mar 17th (4100 hours) and the Serene since Aug 17th (425 hours), yes I track these things. I only use one digital source, Roon on dedicated machine to HQPe on dedicated machine to low power NAA Ethernet to USB with optical isolation, dedicated audio and computer circuits.
Perhaps it’s synergy between the May and Serene but the Serene completely blew away the performance of the BHK pre with uber tubes in my system. The low level detail is astonishing in comparison. A layer of ‘grit’ is gone. It’s more about subtraction of those things you don’t know are there until they are gone.
The BHK is on its way to a new home and I must say I’m happy to not have to fuss with tubes in it any longer. I don’t mind the auto bias circuit in the BHK 250 input tubes but the preamp was an utter pain as it demanded tubes that matched within a very small % or became very noisy. Drift over time became an ongoing management issue. Good riddance.
The volume control on the Serene is glorious. Perfectly balanced from step 1 to 106. I only use on input so no experience to speak of different inputs etc. My system has never been so completely black quiet and dynamic and most importantly to me, engaging.
If you’re on the edge regarding adding a Serene to a Holo dac, I would not hesitate to do it all over again.
P.S. The bass, oh the bass.
Be well my friends.
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Thanks for the update Brett!
Good to hear that the Serene works well together with the BHK monos. I have the BHK 300 and currently using the analog volume control of my T+A DAC8DSD but thinking about adding a preamp in the system and BHK Pre and Serene are on my short list, so this is helpful.
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Dang, it sounds like Holo has hit another one out of the park. Jeff Is a genius.
You are such a pioneer, Brett. Thanks for sharing your experience with the May, which helped me take the risk. And thanks for sharing your experience with the Serene. We learn by sharing. I wouldn’t know about and have the Matrix, Farad and RAL without the forum, for example. And I wouldn’t have my wonderful P20, PST and SPP.
But 3100$ plus shipping, … how do they make a profit ? A great deal for you : your system sounds better to you and you have a profit after selling your previous preamp.
To be able to extract all those details in the recording , it probably measures extremely well, with a really good signal to noise ratio.
I have seen the very positive review by Goldensound.
Has anyone else reviewed or measured the Serene, as far as you know ?
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With the somewhat unique economic/market conditions associated with Chinese manufacturing…?
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Correct. One word explains it. China.
When your labor cost is near zero (or supported by the government) and you don’t care about pollution or health and safety issues for the workforce you can get a lot of work done for not much money.
We are now suffering worldwide shortages due to the entire planet relying on the labor force in China, Southeast Asia and India. The Virus disrupted the “supply chain” that we have created and now we are paying the price.
All you have to do is take a trip to where they dont let the white people go to see the oppression and pollution.
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Lets not forget the cabinets for the FR30 are made in China this was stated by Paul about a couple of years ago. Unless something has changed since then.
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I’d like to see a bit of wood on side panels. It would humanize the design which at present looks totally “android.” -Just sayin.
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Thanks for the detailed review. Looks like the serene is a nice unit.
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The reference was to the May components which I believe are completely made in China. I’m not saying anything about the quality of the build just the fact that labor costs are ridiculously low by western standards so you can put a whole lot more labor into the product for not much money. And the fact that you are buying from a communist country and have no way to know much about the process.
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